Lowering springs and wheel spacers

[Love_iTT]

After seeing my recent pics of my Cab, I've been thinking about getting some H&R (or another brand) lowered springs for it and maybe some wheel spacers too, this will be only for cosmetic reasons (like my Milltek)and not so much for improved handling so I don't want to change shocks or change the standard set up too much. I know that H&R do lowering springs for the B7 RS4 - including the Cab so they're a good starting point.

So with that in mind, what do you guys think, Leave well alone, another alternative or something else which I haven't thought of.

On the wheel spacers point, I'm sure I read somewhere that the 'car' knows where the centre of the wheel rim is and offsetting that with wheel spacers can effect the electronics although this can be rectified using VAGcom. I maybe talking absolute B^%$&*ks on this aspect but something is rattling around inside my head about this.

Anyway, plenty of scope there for discussion.

Graham

[ARSEY4]

Personally id probably do the springs and forget the spacers. Spacers look good if done right (997 c4s with them on looks perfect) but can look daft.

[Virdee Autos]

I think with the blistered arches on the RS4, the spacers will look totally at home.

[Jupu]

Im sorry to say but it was probably my H&R lowering springs tha broke my DRC system. They said at the audi dealership that the extra pressure the springs caused made my shocs leak. Dont know if this is true but it souds reasonable. Or they just say so because they dont want to admit that the DRC system on RS4 has a lot of problems and brokes down easily.

[pippyrips]

I've thought once or twice about the H&R springs myself. Skyotoy has them fitted to his car and can suppy links to pictures - the car does look a million times better.

That said, interesting point made by Jupu - certainly makes me wonder if its worth it.

[noggyblueboy]

Im sorry to say but it was probably my H&R lowering springs tha broke my DRC system. They said at the audi dealership that the extra pressure the springs caused made my shocs leak. Dont know if this is true but it souds reasonable. Or they just say so because they dont want to admit that the DRC system on RS4 has a lot of problems and brokes down easily.

are they still covering the suspension under warranty,even though you changed the springs?

[Jupu]

Cant be sure. When it broke down the first time I had to wait the proper equipment to arrive for the dealer for a month.That fix was under warranty. It broke down instantly after the first fix so I took it back to the dealer. But this time they said that it was because of the H&R lowering spring why it keeps falling apart and im going to have to pay the new shocks myself! I instantly informed them that put the car together and I will pick it up.I drove it straight to local bilstein dealer and had the PSS9 suspension installed. There are just a few RS4s in Finland and I think they dont even know how fix the DRC system if it brakes down. I think its outrageous that the first time they said it was fixed it probably even wasnt or atleast not properly. But im happy now with the bilstein and im eagerly waiting for the track season to begin!

[pippyrips]

Im sorry to say but it was probably my H&R lowering springs tha broke my DRC system. They said at the audi dealership that the extra pressure the springs caused made my shocs leak. Dont know if this is true but it souds reasonable. Or they just say so because they dont want to admit that the DRC system on RS4 has a lot of problems and brokes down easily.

are they still covering the suspension under warranty,even though you changed the springs?

I bet 99% of uk dealers wouldn't cover.

[P_G]

I've thought once or twice about the H&R springs myself. Skyotoy has them fitted to his car and can suppy links to pictures - the car does look a million times better.

That said, interesting point made by Jupu - certainly makes me wonder if its worth it.

IIRC lowering springs cause what Jupu says, coilovers would eliminate this. I had a set of H&R lowering springs for my B6 S4 but didn't put them on after a friend of mine with a similar B6 found that it reduced the effective range of the dampers and it was suspected that they would eventually damage them. It also made the suspension and ride very firm and numb, but was rectified by a coilover kit.

If you want to lower your RS4 go this route. Far more expensive granted but for a reason.

[P_G]

Or you could just put 20" rims on instead. It waht I eventually did on my S4, moved from 18" Avus to 19" Sportec Monos and they filled the arches nicely.

[ARSEY4]

Or you could just put 20" rims on instead. It waht I eventually did on my S4, moved from 18" Avus to 19" Sportec Monos and they filled the arches nicely.

Shouldnt you keep the rolling radius the same otherwise it will cock up teh gearing/speedo, in which case will do naff all to filling the arches only exagerate any gap.

[P_G]

You can re program that and the sat nav through VAG-Com, or you used to be able to. Plus with larger rims the side profile of the tyre usually decreases

[Love_iTT]

Well, I think the lowering is out then - too many complications to think about. I've got some 100/112mm pcd wheel spacers in the garage left over from my TT days so I think I'll have a play with them first and see how it looks and handles. If it works out OK I'll get some dedicated spacers as the ones for the TT are the wrong diameter for the RS4 (too small for the rear face of the wheel, only a bit but enough for it to look wrong).

I'll let you know how I get on. Thanks for all the comments though chaps - much appreciated

[approved]

put rear spacers on it...eibach do a nice 12mm per side kit...the front fill the arches enough for me, but the rear looks so much better, as the tyre no sits sicely up to the rim...no rubbing issues either.

as for suspension, i'd be looking at kw variant 3...tis an amazing kit of kit and you can adjus the camber as well as rebound and height.

[rAudiguy]

as for suspension, i'd be looking at kw variant 3...tis an amazing kit of kit and you can adjus the camber as well as rebound and height.

How much is that kit fitted???